LETTER: Caleb Fairley has no ground to stand upon for hearing

Your Sept. 25 article, “Convicted Collegeville strangler Caleb Fairley files appeal,” has unnecessary reopened the heartbreak for the family and friends of the victims, Lisa and Devon Manderach. Does The Times Herald have no empathy for the family of the victims? The convicted criminal has no ground to stand upon to be granted a hearing in this appeal based on the blatant misinterpretation of a new Supreme Court ruling for juveniles and abuse of the legal system. The Times Herald coverage of the case fails to report on the ludicrous nature of the appeal and is an insult to the family of the victims.

The Times Herald should be embarrassed at their incomplete reporting by which they have minimized the heinous nature of the crimes committed. Reporter Carl Hessler Jr. and The Times Herald lack respect for the victims and their families, as evidenced by incomplete reporting. Let us hope that the legal system does a better job at separating fact from this disgraceful sensationalized report of a truly horrific crime.

Editor’s Note: Whether Caleb Fairley had grounds to stand on was not the subject of the story. Pointing out the ludicrous nature of the appeal — which we did in a Thumbs Down on the editorial page — in a news story, would have been editorializing.